Crucial Material – Best Releases Of The Week (March 2nd, 2019)

Too much music too little time.

Thankfully, our Crucial Material is slowly but surely becoming one of the best weekly recaps in the world scanning the hundreds of new releases and sharing only the cream of the crop.

So here we go. Dive in!

NEW ALBUMS & EP’S

Elsa Hewitt “Citrus Paradisi”

Genre: Electronic
Label: ERH
Purchase Link

A beautiful self-produced self-released self-everything album from the multi-talented Elsa Hewitt. Layered textures, guitar-loops, keyboards, looped voice, create a submersive sound to lose oneself in. But it’s not all loops and textures, there are fantastic songs in the traditional sense here, such as “Blood Orange”. Digital and cassette only (which might have sold out but it’s worth having a look) for now. Can’t wait to hear what’s next and having seen it with my own eyes (and ears), I can thoroughly recommend her live show too.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Hejira “Thread of Gold”

Genre: Pop, R&B/Soul, Alternative
Label: Lima Limo Records
Purchase Link

Stunning second album from the Hejira trio and extended family. Lead singer, co-writer, and bassist, Rahel, draws the listener through 9 beautiful stories, supported by a beautiful bedrock of exquisite musicianship and production. Influences are myriad, pop, R&B, folk and far beyond, but overall it feels like it could be one the most crucial serious pop albums since “A Seat At The Table”.
– Selected by Oli Brunetti

Jura Soundsystem “Monster Skies”

Genres: Downtempo / Ambient / House
Label: Isle Of Jura
Purchase Link

JSS are back with a 6-tack EP on Temples Of Jura. Elements of Dub, Ambient House, Electronica, Electro-Funk and New Age all find their way onto ‘Monster Skies’. The affair is mostly one of leisure, but bursts of energy are present too. Conceptual no doubt, the tracks play together nicely and make for a lush and transporting listen. There’s a few copies of the vinyl release left on the label’s Bandcamp page, digi release drops March 7th and wide release is shortly after that. Tropical sounds to dream about Summer to.
-Selected by Jake Stellarwell

Zara McFarlane w/ Dennis Bovell “East of the River Nile”

Genre: Reggae / Dub
Label: Brownswood
Purchase Link

Brownswood recording artist and extremely talented vocalist Zara McFarlane teams up with reggae producer and innovator Dennis Bovell on a new rendition of Augustus Pablo’s 1977 dub classic ‘East of the River Nile’. Featuring four different versions of the single, the track nicely blends soulful melodies with reggae roots, and dub influenced grooves.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Ruby Rushton “Eleven Grapes”

Genre: Jazz
Label: 22a
Purchase Link

The London-based quartet Ruby Rushton, led by flautist, saxophonist, and 22a label boss Tenderlonious, releases a limited-edition 7inch single ahead of their much-anticipated upcoming full-length album ‘Ironsides’ (release date: April 5). “Eleven Grapes” fuses jazz improvisation, with Fender Rhodes-based grooves and funky percussive rhythms. On the flip, “One Mo’ Dram” is a reworked version of an earlier Tenderlonious composition.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Edi Soda “s/t EP”

Genre: Jazz
Label: Sola Terra
Purchase Link

The Brighton-based septet releases their debut EP through the London-based label Sola Terra. This four-track release is jazz that definitely grooves, combining funky rhythms with swelling horn lines, and electric keys.
– Selected by TJ Gorton

Pinty “City Limits”

Label: Rhythm Section
Genre: House / UKG
Purchase Link

“Without even releasing a record, Peckham based DJ & MC Pinty has quickly become the talk of the town. ‘Tropical Bleu’, the lead single off debut EP ‘City Limits’, was produced by Archy Marshall – or King Krule – under his DJ JD SPORTS alias. It boasts the hallmarks of Marshall’s woozy production coupled with Pinty’s MC-led approach to the dancefloor. ‘Tropical Bleu’ is a jazz-tinged broken beat roller which sees Pinty gliding effortlessly backwards into the rat race. Given the fluid approach to genre and it’s grounding in Peckham’s vibrant musical scene, Bradley Zero’s Rhythm Section International is the rightful home for ‘City Limits’, which traverses hip hop, house, UKG, jazz and darker electronic sounds with ease.” (via Rhythm Section)

REISSUES & ARCHIVAL

Curt Cress “Dschung Tek”

Genres: Fusion / Balearic Beat / Electronic
Label: Music From Memory
Purchase Link

Originally released on WEA in ’92, ‘Dschung Tek’, a lesser-known single by Curt Cress, is reissued along with 3 tracks from Curt’s ’83 LP. As with his work on Avanti, CC’s drumming is a focal point on Dschung, but not in the same way. Curt gets writing, production and remix help on Dschung, and it’s all the better for it. Both versions of DT are fully realized works aimed directly at the dance floor. The Avanti selections, as with the remaining tracks on that LP, are vignettes; superb ones, heavily effected and trippy, but vignettes nonetheless. Combining the selections on a single EP makes perfect sense though, as there’s certainly a time and place for each.
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell

Kel Air & Band Band “Tuareg”

Genres: Italo-Disco / New Wave / Electronic
Label: ZYX
Purchase Link

ZYX bring out the guns with ultra-rare, mid-temp Italo cut by Kel Air & Band Band. Two new versions are included on the new pressing, a remix by Flemming Dalum and an edit by Hysteric. I’d say don’t be tricked though, the original mixes are just fine the way they are. This is top-notch wave-ish Italo, perfect for building up steam, or resetting down to a steady groove. Big bassline, short verb on the kick, Arabic motifs, distant vox and synth-flute; locked and sparse, but definitely one for the system. Tip!
– Selected by Jake Stellarwell